Has it been a WEEK already?!?

Well, you know my excuse- too busy! Our final baseball game is tonight (tournament finals) and then we'll be going camping nearly all next week so I can't say things will get much better around here (SORRY!). I did, however, complete a scrapbook page last night, just one, after our ball game got rained out. I am starting a brand new album for my son since his last one is totally full and I was at the end of a year. This is the first page in his next album. Unfortunately, the pictures weren't all that great (pretty crummy in fact) so I came up with a way to still save the memory for him but not focus on a bunch of dark blurry pictures: A Pocket!

The bottom half of the page is a pocket with a handful of the best crummy pictures I could find all matted and labeled with a tab. The paper is something old from my stash (and I mean OLD!) and there is absolutely NO STAMPING on this page- a rarity for me! All the solid cardstock is from SU as well as the black brads everywhere and the tab and star punches. By the way, the pocket idea is a hit with my kids. They've both been really interested in checking out this page today!! I guess interactive pages are where it's at!

The journaling is on a pennant that I made to replicate the look from the patterned paper, and it says "Just for fun in the winter we like to have our very own Family Fun Night! We play hot potato, follow-the-leader, basketball etc. No wonder you 2 think it's dad's gym!"

Retire in Style- Take 2

Next up, Unfrogettable! Who can resist this sweet frog?! This set also includes a mushroom, snail, firefly and several sayings! This set is on page 61 in the current catty. Enjoy!

Retire in Style!

So, for the next few days while I'm out of town I thought I'd feature some oldies but goodies... in other words cards I made a while back featuring some of my favorite stamp sets that are soon retiring.

This selection features the Whale Wishes stamp set, page 62 in the current catalog. I've always loved fish so knew I had to have this one. Don't worry, the other stamps and other accessories shown here are not necessarily retiring yet. The accessories list will be published later (July 1st I believe). If you are lovin' this set and think it is a must have be sure to contact your SU Demonstrator soon (if that's me, great!).

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!
~Kristin~

A Little Bit...

A little bit of time to stamp today... mostly because my DD insisted upon it. I am knee deep into a book that I'd almost rather be reading plus we're leaving town for a few days so laundry should be first priority.

Anyway, today I will be posting a new Featured Stamper challenge over on our Great Swaps blog so I really wanted to CASE my FS first. Becky Carafa, the GSG fearless leader, is our FS this week. She is the brains behind our entire group and is just a treat to have as a cyber friend! Here is the card of hers that I chose to CASE and next is my version, and my DD's version (she wanted to make the VERY SAME card and insisted I photo it on the black stand and that it should be on my blog!). We kept the layout but changed up the colors and the stamps used. I also wanted to participate in this week's Great Swaps Challenge to use one of the sets that will be retiring at the end of July. Here I've used Polka Dots & Paisley and my DD added a sentiment from It's Your Birthday which is also retiring (*sob*).

Well, thanks for checking in. I'll probably be MIA until early next week since I'll be out of town. If it is cold or rainy I may sneak in a post while away if I can!

Stampin' Up Supplies

Stamps: Polka Dots & Paisley, It's Your Birthday

Paper: Basic Gray, Whisper White, Lovely Lilac, Almost Amethyst

Ink: Lovely Lilac

Accessories: Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon, White Gel Pen

CASE for today!

Sorry, no scrapbook page right now, but maybe later this evening or tomorrow?? Anyway, today I decided to whip out a card for this week's Featured Stamper Challenge. Vickie Waugh is the featured stamper- be sure to check out her gallery! Here is the card I decided to CASE- it is so lovely and peaceful and serene! I changed up the papers and ink, but kept with the layout and color scheme since those parts were my favorite!!

Anyone can participate in the GSG challenges so be sure to play along! The link to GSG is in my sidebar- don't miss it! I'm off to the pool- have a great Saturday!!

Stamps: Shore Thing, Reason to Smile
Paper: Blue Bayou, Spring Fling, River Rock prints, Whisper White
Ink: Blue Bayou, River Rock
Accessories: Scallop punch, DS blue bayou ribbon, stampin' dimensionals

Back on track?!??

After a significant break I am finally back to scrappin' ~I HOPE~!! I did 2 pages last month and 2 this month so far. I must give credit to Lisa Henke for motivating me with her gorgeous pages that she so often posts on her blog! She is an awesome scrapper- I only wish I lived closer so we could get together!

I apologize in advance for the ho-hum photo quality. This first layout (I almost always do 2 page spreads) was put off for a long time because none of the pics are great but I didn't want to skip my son's first Preschool Program. Anyway, I like how it turned out... just wish I had a better camera! I used some chipboard my friend Nicky gave me so I'm unsure of the brand, but everything else is from SU! The paper is the retired Wintergreen pack from last year, and I also used Build-a-Brads and current ribbon. On the left hand page I have a hidden journaling tag with names behind the photo, and on the right hand side the program they handed out is tucked behind the panel of decorative paper (you can see a bit of the edge sticking out on the inside edge). The jumbo Snowflake was in the last Holiday Mini as well and I'm crossing my fingers that it will make the new catty in August!

The journaling on this reads "Was it stage fright or just plain old ornery-ness?? DS & DS's BFF were front & center at their Christmas Program. CUTE! For DS, sittintg on Santa's lap definitely took nerve!" My journaling is short and fragmented but that's what happens when you're 4 years behind! :)

This layout was not a favorite, to say the least. Actually it's just the very dated embellishments that I used. I have hung on to this title boxes with coordinating decorative strips for so long I couldn't bare to NOT use it now that I'm finally getting to school stuff!! Anyone with me? I know most people would have thrown them away, but I just thought "This feels like a challenge, make a decent looking page with dated embellishments". I dont' know if I succeeded but it is done and staying in the album! I only used a few SU materials, the brads and the Summer Picnic paper. I don't have a clue where the rest came from (my memory isn't THAT GOOD!)

Journaling reads: "The annual Grandparent Potluck was DS's chance to show us his fun preschool classroom and introduce his teachers to his family! DD enjoyed playing in the classroom as well."

Thanks for stoppin' by and for baring with my pages seemingly from the early 90's!!

Use that Crimper!!

For this week's GSG Challenge (which I posted and am just now getting around to doing!) we were pull out and dust off our crimper! Well, I did it! I was also asked to design a Father's Day card for a friend so here it is (hers is similar but not exact). I'm also entering this in SU's July contest for demonstrators to use September colors. I'm not sure exactly what "September Colors" are but this is my take on it!

If you just happen to notice the lovely flowers placed subtley in the background my DD picked them for me from my flowerbeds this morning. Wasn't that sweet?!

This Sunday is not only Father's Day but also our 12th wedding aniversary so I made this card for my hubby. Shh, don't tell him, but I'm also sending it to SU for their monthly contest for demonstrators. The heart is from the Sticky Cuts collection and is covered in the green micro beads. I also cut a mat for it in kraft then another in Ruby Red. The card base itself is textured Certainly Celery!

Thanks for stopping by! I'll try harder to post more often!

SU! Supplies card 1

Stamps: Stems & Silhouettes jumbo wheel, All Holidays

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, Creamy Caramel, Naturals Ivory

Ink: Chocolate Chip Craft & Classic

Accessories: Linen thread, Antique brass jumbo eyelet, vintage brads, Clear EP, Crimper

SU! Supplies card 2

Stamps: Unfrogettable

Cardstock: Textured Certainly Celery, Whipser White, Kraft, Ruby Red

Ink: Basic Brown

Accessories: Earth Elements brads, Sticky Cuts Letters (heart), Green Micro beads, Cutter Kit, Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Aquapainter, Chocolate Chip polytwill ribbon, Ruby Red marker

A quickie!

Boy am I having trouble finding time and even motivation to stamp lately! It might have to do with the book I'm reading at every spare moment... Nineteen Minutes by Jody Picoult (I think I spelled that right, but it's not in front of me... or else I'd be reading instead of posting). This can't be long- my DH needs my help picking strawberries before they rot! Our tiny little patch is producing like crazy this year- probably enough to make my jam from this year (I usually buy from the Amish)!!

Anyway, I pulled out a few SAB sets that didn't get much love while they were current and the papers here were already cut and ready on my table so I made them work, or tried anyway. The flower is punched out of glossy white cardstock so there's a little sheen to it. I still am in love with this hodgepodge! Did you notice All in a Row down there?? I vow to use it more as well!

Take care, and have a great day. PS- here's our strawberry "yield" from one day and our patch is about 5x10!

Gotta run, have a great day!

SU! Supplies

Stamps: Friendship in Bloom, So Many Scallops, All in a Row
Paper: Kraft, Spring Fling, glossy white
Ink: purely pomegranate, chocolate chip
Accessories: Styled Silver Hodgepodge, Ribbon Originals

Bite Me!

Hee hee, that's supposed to be funny, not crude and offensive! :) As I mentioned in my gallery, my 6 yo DD was feeling left out last night since her brother had a friend over so I attempted to cheer her up by letting her help me make this card. We've been wanting to CASE this card by Becky for a long time so we finally did it!

The bite out of the corner is just such a fun idea that we had to do it! I let her pick out all the colors and papers and even do the stamping. I just helped put it together and tie the knot (I also stamped the bird). Thanks for stopping by, I plan to do some more stampin' this week hopefully! So my blog won't be so boring!

Have a great Sunday!

SU! Supplies

Stamps: Wild About You
Paper: Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, Spring Fling
Ink: Wild Wasabi, Rose Red
Accessories: Wide Regal Rose Grosgrain, large oval punch, scallop punch, sponge